Improvement in middlings-purifiers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI S. REYNOLDS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT l N MlDDLlNGS-FURIFIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,729, dated S pfembcr 9, 1873; application filed April 28, 1873.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI SIMPSON REY- NOLDS, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flour-Separators and Middlings-Purifiers, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings being made a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a crossvertical section. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details.

My invention relates to that class of separators usedin flour-mills to separate the flour from the middlings, and to purify the middlings and increase their commercial value and quality; and it consists in the construction of the several parts so as to secure peculiar compound vibrations to the riddle or bolting-cloth, as hereinafter more fully described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the precise manner in which I have carried it out.

The frame or casing Aof this machine I will describe as a common bolting-chest. Across the head of this chest is the shaft (4, to which the eccentric a is attached, (see Fig. 5,) which moves the frame B inclosing the riddle O, to which is secured the bolting-cloth. One or more of these riddles may be used. A pulley, D, on one end of this shaft connects by a band with a similar shaft, 6, across the other end of the chest. This shaft 6 connects with the millpower at one end, and at the other end carries a pulley which connects by a band with the shaft that runs the fan. The shaft 6 also runs the conveyor F in the bottom of the chest, and gives motion to the lever-arm G, which works the sliding balls or weight H used as knockers. The frame B, to which the eccentric a is attached, rests on the bars a inside of the chest, which bars project at each end sufficiently for attachments which connect them to brackets 0, (see Fig. 6,) secured to the chest. These brackets 0 have rods (1 passing through them, the heads of which rest on the springs 9. These rods pass through the bars a, and have nuts 011 the lower ends, by means of which the riddle may be regulated and given any pitch desired, the bars resting entirely on the springs.

The frame B is constructed with casters or rollers, which rest on the'bars a, or these rollers may be attached to the bars, thus giving a light easy motion and in a direct line. This frame may be supported from above or below. The inside frame or riddle G, to which the boltingcloth is attached, also rests on casters or rollers, or may rest on springs supported by flanges secured to the inner surface of the outside frame B. This inside frame 0 is made a little shorter than the inside of the frame B, so as to give the frame 0 a little play or end motion, and cause it to tap lightly against the end pieces of the outside frame. The projections 0 (see Fig. 2) on the frame 0 are for the purpose of producing this tap, as the frame 0. moves within the frame B. The force of this tap may be regulated by a setscrew or by springs at 0. This arrangement secures an automatic cleaner but an additional knocker may be used, to consist of a falling weight, H. A rod, h, is secured at the top of the chest over the center of the riddle O, and extends downward, leaving room for the riddle to pass freely under its lower end. The weight H having a vertical hole through its center, slides up and down freely on this rod. This weight is drawn up any desired distance by a cord or other device, l, passing over a pulley to a lever-arm, G, (see Fig. 1,) worked by a cam, c, on the driving-shaft c, and it falls at regular intervals on a plate, It, secured to the center of the riddle 0. (See Fig. 3.) The number and force of the blows can beregulated at pleasure. These vertical concussions on a line with the meshes of the cloth, combined with the horizontal end concussions of the riddle at right angles with the meshes, secures a compound vibration perfectly effectual in preventing the gumming of the bolting-cloth.

The fan is located near the tail end. of the chest, or at any suitable point, and extends nearly across the chest. The air is fed to the fan through the perforated tubes J, arranged transversely. across the machine in chamber Z, and communicating with the outside air regulated by slides. from these tubes to the fan is almost perpendicular, and covers every inch of theecloth at this part of the machine, thereby securing a uniform action. The chest is intended to be The admission of the air asnearly air-tight as possible, and air in strong force at this point can be used as the finer middlings and dust of flour will have passed through the cloth before reaching this point, and consequently very little except the brown refuse will escape by the fan. In addition to this a light draft will be admitted at head of the chest, and be regulated by the slides J. This will help to buoy up the specky material and pass it along to the stronger current of air, where it will be drawn up through the fan.

By the arrangement of the perforated tubes J, openings J, and the partitions A, I produce an accelerated draft toward the point where the middlings become heaviest. The volume of air passing through the chamber Z and out at the opening q traversing the boltingcloth where the middlin gs are lightest, produces sufficient agitation, but not too much. The greater Volume of air passing from the perforated tubes J J J through the bolting-cloth and the chamber Z out through the openings q q q, creates great agitation when the middlin gs become heavier.

The machine will be fed in the usual way by feed-rollers or by spouts. The offal at the tail end of riddle will be carried oft in the usual manner. The conveyer F is for collecting the stuff after passing through the riddle, a portion of which may be returned to the head of the machine in the usual manner.

I do not in this application claim, broadly,

the double riddle-frame B G, as this device forms a part, and is incorporated in a distinct application of mine for improvement in middlings-purifiers; nor do I claim, broadly, perforated air-tubes placed under a bolt-in g-screen, as such is not myrinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The riddle-frame G, in combination with the frame B, supporting-bars a, and springs g, all constructed and arranged'substantially as an d for the purpose set forth.

2. The relative arrangement of the openings J and perforated tubes J J J in the case, in combination with the partitions A, screen 0, and fan for producing an accelerated draft of air, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The sliding Weight H, opera-ted as de-. scribed, in combination with the riddle (I havin g ahorizontal vibration, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

L. SIMPSOX REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

E. A. CAMPBELL, I). REYNOLDS. 

